Review of a Primary Source Article

The relationship between ethnic identity and chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections among low-income detained African american females

Incarcerated woman, google pictures (3) 

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between ethnic identity and the incidence of STD like Gonorrhea and chlamydia in detained African American female adolescents. The information for this study was obtained from 123 females in 8 different detention facilities in Georgia(1). The methods they used to obtain the information was an audio-computer assisted self interviewing. This helped decrease reporting bias and reduce problem caused by illiteracy among participants. The measure used to determine strength of ethnic identity was the Multigroup Measure of Ethnic Identity, which asked questions about the importance of ethnic identity in the persons life and the the strength of which they agree with statements regarding their ethnic identity(1). After correcting for other predictors of STIs like age and parental oversight, girls who strongly identified with ethnic identity appeared to be 4.3 times more at risk to contract Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. This is very significant, especially considering girls who participated in HIV risk associated behaviors were only 1.5 times more likely to have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea (1). I chose this article to highlight an at risk population, African Americans. As previously noted, reasons behind the higher incidence of chlamydia in African American populations can be linked to socioeconomic status and stigma.  Socioeconomic status can mean not having transportation or money to pay for treatment against STDs (2).

Characteristics of the sample (1)

The result of this study is very important because previous research suggested that strength of ethnic identity was a protective characteristic because it reduced certain risky behaviors (i.e. cigarette use). The table above shows the characteristics of the sample. Prevalence of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea  infections were 22.6% and 4.3% , respectfully (1). Additionally, 46.3% of the sample reported high ethnic identity (1). 

This study shows that there may also be some negative effects of strong ethnic identity. The authors of this paper noted that this study is limited in that most of the girls came from a poor socioeconomic background and that these results may not be generalizable to the rest of the population(1). Therefore, future studies should use a more socioeconomically diverse population. Another possible study could replicate the study with a different ethnic group, such as those who identify as hispanic, to see if the specific ethnicity affects the relationship under study in this paper.


Sources:


(1) Voisin DR, Salazar LF, Crosby R, & Diclemente RJ. (2013). The relationship between ethnic identity and Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections among low-income detained African American adolescent females. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 18(3), 355-62. doi:10.1080/13548506.2012.726361

Site of primary source article: http://www-tandfonline-com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/doi/pdf/10.1080/13548506.2012.726361

(2) http://web.clark.edu/tkibota/240/Disease/Chlamydia.pdf

(3) http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/prison-woman.jpg